UMSL’s EdPreneurs Present Their Business Ideas at Venture Cafe St. Louis

November 2915:552017

On Thursday, November 30th cohort members of University of Missouri St. Louis’s (UMSL) Education Entrepreneur in Residence Program Program will share their business ideas and answer questions from the community. Over the course of the past few months, the EdPreneurs have come to weekly meetings, discussed readings, heard from scholars and innovators regarding issues in education.

On Thursday, November 30th cohort members of University of Missouri St. Louis’s (UMSL) Education Entrepreneur in Residence Program Program will share their business ideas and answer questions from the community. Presenting the business ideas at Venture Cafe is significant because this weekly gathering brings together over 500 people in the innovation and entrepreneurship community.

Dr. Kathleen Fink, Assistant Dean of Professional Learning and Innovation and Executive Director of the EDCollabitat stated, “We know the educational landscape has numerous challenges and it takes a collective effort to create sustainable change.”

An article in the St. Louis Business Journal supports Dr. Fink’s perspective on collaboration, “In addition to financial support, innovation requires full government, academic and industry support.” Consequently, the weekly gathering at Venture Cafe attracts members of the community and includes opportunities to network and attend numerous educational sessions.

On Thursday, the “Edpreneurs” from the University of Missouri St. Louis will participate in a panel discussion which highlights their business ideas and what they’ve learned thus far in the program. Over the course of the past few months, the EdPreneurs have come to weekly meetings, discussed readings, heard from scholars and innovators regarding issues in education.

One of the core readings is The Lean Start Up: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses. As author Eric Reis states,“The goal of the lean start up is to move through the build-measure-learn feedback loop as quickly as possible.”

Venture Cafe will provide important feedback for the Edpreneurs as they tackle serious challenges facing education. “We always appreciate the community’s support when the EdPreneurs present at Venture Cafe. The insight they give the cohort is invaluable and the questions asked help the EdPreneurs trouble shoot any potential road blocks.” explains Amber Bell Christian, program producer, ED Collabitat and EdPrenuer program leader.

East St. Louis native and EdPreneur cohort member Devon Moody Graham shares, “The EdPreneur Program has allowed me to meet some amazing people in the education space and helped me to learn new methods when creating my online youth entrepreneurship platform, The Biz Creator.”

The innovation community benefits from educational institutions launching initiatives such as the EdPreneur Program, which is committed to cultivating change through rigorous curriculum and mentoring.

Community members can come to listen the EdPreneurs pitch on Thursday, November 30, 2017 from 6pm -7pm at 4240 Duncan Ave. St. Louis MO 63110. For more information click here or contact Amber Bell Christian at [email protected].